One on One Defense

As a coach we often try several types of defense but our basic defense
remains man-to-man. Our athletes must have good individual defensive
skills; therefore, it is important that we work extensively on
man-to-man coverage. These drills will help your players improve their
man-to-man defense skills!

Defense
Defense
is a challenge. Offensive players know their moves. It takes smarter
players to play defense because they must be able to react and
anticipate the offensive opponent’s moves. A good defense means more
ball possessions, which should translate into more points. Any good
player can play defense if they concentrate. A good solid player will
accept the challenge of playing defense. Defense takes more
determination and how well your team defends will be a direct
reflection of the maturity of those individuals and the team as a whole.
Coaches must practice defensive drills at game tempo so their players
are able to react and perform well during the game when they are called
upon to improvise. There are three basic principals necessary to have a
good defensive team. They are: 1) the ability to control the tempo, 2)
solid basket protection and 3) shot selection with good execution and
patience.
Focusing on basics defensive fundamentals such as: the defensive
stance, on the ball defense skills, timing as well as space and
distance will improve your players’ ability to defend under game
conditions.

Defensive
Stance
Reminding your players to use the proper defensive stance is easy.
Actually getting them in the stance will take practice. Players must
practice the stance - feet should be spread about a shoulder width
apart with their knees pointed slightly outward and their weight
distributed on the inside of the foot. The trunk of the body is almost
straight and the player’s arms are to the side of the body with palms
or thumbs up. A good defensive player will keep his feet moving and
will make sure he always keeps his eyes on his opponent and ball.

On
the Ball Defense
When guarding the player with the ball, the defensive player must be
low in a good defensive stance and about an arms length away from their
opponent. Under these circumstances the defensive player should focus
on their opponent’s trunk, so as not to be faked out of position. The
defensive player must anticipate the dribble and maintain a defensive
cushion of at least a step. If the dribbler gets ahead of the defense
the defender should turn and run, using a cross-over step to get back
in position and influence the dribbler to take the sideline or
baseline. The defender should continue to pressure the ball and work
the dribbler back to the middle of the floor where help awaits. When
the defender
forces the dribbler to pick up the ball, he should close up or “belly
up”, on the player and try to prevent a good pass. Now the defensive
player should be in a parallel stance with both arms extended as high
as possible to force the lob pass.

Defending
One Pass Away from the Ball
The defender that is one pass away from the ball must constantly work
to prevent his player from receiving the ball or cutting toward the
basket for the shot. When the defender is one pass away from the ball
he should place himself between his opponent and the basket. He should
be at least one arm’s length away and make sure one hand and foot are
in the passing lane at all times. The defensive player must continually
adjust his stance as his opponent moves or the ball moves so that he
maintains the defensive triangle.

Defending
Two or More Passes Away from the Ball
A simple rule is – the further the offensive player is from the ball
the farther the defender can be from the offensive player he is
guarding. The defender should take one step toward the ball with each
pass going away from his man. However, the defender should never be so
far away that he cannot beat the pass back to his man. The defender can
open up the ball a little more so he can see both his opponent and the
ball as it moves away from him. The defensive players must continually
readjust as the ball is passed and dribbled. The defender must not lose
sight of the ball; therefore, it is important to make contact with the
opponent so that he knows were the opponent is at all times.

Vision
Step 1
The defender is in the middle of lane on defense. Offense starts in the
corner away from ball on the weakside. Offense moves up to the free
throw line extended to make defense move.
Note: Point to the man and the ball.

Weakside Ball Cut
Step 2
Aggressively deny the passing lane. When the offensive player cuts to
the ball the defender should beat him to the spot and dictate
directions on cuts. Do not give the cutter any
options.

Protecting the Block
Step 3
Offense cuts back door then post up on the block. The defense plays
back door cut then must front the post on the ball side.

Deny Corner
Step 4
The offense player pops out to the corner and the defender maintains a
pass denial position with his arm and hand in the passing lane.

Post Front to Helpside
Step 5
The offense player cuts back door, then clears out to the weakside. The
defender assumes a pass denial position in the middle of the key. See
man and the ball.
Note: Do not follow the cutter to the weakside.

Defending the Flash Cut – Low to High
Step 6
Offense player starts in the corner away from ball on the weakside, and
then attempts to flash to the ball. The defender is in the middle of
the lane in the stance position on the line
and up the line. See man and the ball. The defender must move and
adjust to prevent the cutter from receiving the ball from the Coach.

Protecting the Elbow
Step 7
Defense assumes a pass denial against offense at the elbow. Offense
steps out to top of the circle and then cuts to the weakside. Defense
stays on the line and up the line assuming
a pass denial position in the middle of the key.

Defending the Flash Cut – High to Low
Step 8
Offense player starts at wing away from ball on the weakside, and then
attempts to cut to the ballside low post. The defender is in the middle
of the lane in the stance position on the line and up the line. See man
and the ball. The defender must move and adjust to prevent the cutter
from receiving the ball from the Coach.

Defending the Flash Cut - Low to High to the Weakside
Step 9
Offense starts at the ballside block crossing to the opposite wing to
receive the skip pass from the Coach. Defense assumes a denial position
then closes out with a high hand close enough to influence and contain
any drive to the baseline and stop any shot.

Pass and Cut to the Weakside Wing
Step 1
Offense passes to the Coach then cuts away to the weakside wing. The
defender moves in the direction of the pass, and assumes a helpside
position. See man and the ball.
Note: Do not follow the cutter to the weakside.

Closeout Drill
Step 2
Defender is in a helpside position, seeing both the ball and player.
The Coach makes a skip pass to the offense player who looks to shoot or
drive. Defender closes out on the offense
player with a high hand close enough to prevent a shot. Defender is
forcing the ball to the corner.
Purpose: To improve defender’s help-side defense by recovering quickly.
To close out the shooter and react dribble penetration.

Ball on the Wing
Step 3
The Coach passes the ball to the offense player at the wing. Defender
should protect the elbow. When the ball is on the wing, the defender
should make every attempt to push the ball towards the baseline. When
the dibbler tries to drive into the middle of the court, the defender
should protect the elbow and force the dribbler over the top of the
circle.

Pass Denial Block-to-Block
Step 4
Offense player makes a skip pass to the Coach and cuts to the ballside
wing. Defender should have his arm and hand in the passing lane to deny
any return passes from the Coach to the offense player.

Deny the Wing Pass
Step 5
Offense player steps out to the wing to receive the ball from the
Coach. Defender stays in the pass denial position with his arm and hand
in the passing lane.

Defend the Back Door Cut
Step 6
Offense player goes back door cut to the basket trying to receive the
pass from the Coach for the layup. Defender stays in a pass denial
position and swivels his head for vision and slides down the key with
the cutter, denying the pass from the Coach.

Dribbling the Ball to a Wing and Clear Out
The Coach dribbles to the wing, as the offense player cuts across the
lane to the weakside. The defender denies the back cut, and then
assumes a helpside position in the middle of the lane. See man and the
ball.
Note: Do not follow the cutter out to the weakside wing.

Give and Go Cut to the Basket
Offense player dribbles to the top of the key and passes to the Coach
then cuts to the basket. Defender moves in the direction of the pass,
and then follows the cutter maintaining a denial position. Beat the
cutter through on ballside.

Give and Go Cut to the Basket (Either Direction)
This drill is the same as the previous. This time offense can cut to
the basket in either direction.

Closeout and Pass Denial
The Coach makes a skip pass to O1 at the weakside wing. O1 looks to
shoot or drive. X1 is in a help position, seeing both the ball and
player. X1 closes out on O1 with a high hand close enough to prevent a
shot. X1 forces the ball to the corner. At the baseline O1 passes to
the Coach then cuts across the lane. X1 assumes a pass denial position
against O1.

Off Skill Ball (Wing Denial)
Step 1
By using hand and arm in the passing lane the defender does not allow
the ball to be caught by the offense.

Off Skill Ball (Protect the Elbow)
Step 2
By using hand and arm in the passing lane the defender does not allow
the ball to be caught by the offense.

Off Skill Ball (Post Denial)
Step 3
By using hand and arm in the passing lane the defender does not allow
the ball to be caught by the offense.

Off Skill Ball (Pass Denial in the Lane)
Step 4
By using hand and arm in the passing lane the defender does not allow
the ball to be caught by the offense.

Off Skill Ball (Point Denial)
Step 5
By using hand and arm in the passing lane the defender does not allow
the ball to be caught by the offense

Ball Denial and Closeout
02 attempts to get open to receive the ball from the Coach while X2
denies the pass.
Instead the Coach passes to 01 at the weakside wing. X2 moves on the
pass to a good weakside position. 01 drives to the basket. X2 stops the
drive and takes charge outside of the paint.

Shot Block Drill
O1 passes to X4 then cuts to the basket to receive the ball from the
Coach for the layup. X4 immediately passes to O2 then follows O1 to the
baseline to block O1’s shot. 02 drives hard to the basket for the
layup, and X4 stops the drive and blocks the shot.
Note: To improve defender’s help-side defense by recovering quickly. To
closeout the shooter and react to dribble penetration.